West Virginia University is closing at 1:30 p.m. Saturday due to Gov. Joe Manchin’s declaration of a state of emergency as a result of a severe winter storm.

Employees and students were urged to exercise caution and good judgment in traveling home.

Additionally, the Mountaineer Parents Club has delayed for 24 hours buses scheduled to take students home to several Northeastern cities; West Virginia University residence halls will remain open overnight and carryout meals will be available to accommodate students stranded due to a severe winter storm.

A winter storm warning was in effect for West Virginia until 6 a.m. Sunday, with an accumulation of 3 to 6 inches of snow expected in the Morgantown area. More snow was predicted for the Northeast, with a foot or more predicted for some areas.

“Student safety is our utmost concern, therefore the buses departing to Hagerstown, MD; Allentown, PA; Philadelphia, PA; and Seacucus, NJ will be departing tomorrow (Sunday), not today, at the same times and locations as were scheduled for today,” Mountaineer Club Executive Director Sabrina Cave said.

The buses will now depart Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. from the Mountainlair and 2 p.m. from the Evansdale Residential Complex. All buses return to Morgantown on Sunday, Jan. 10 around 6 p.m.

University residence halls had been scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Saturday, however they will remain open until 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and Dining Services will prepare carryout meals while the halls are open, said Director of Housing Corey Farris.

“Take out meals will be available in Boreman Bistro, Summit Caf�, and Caf� Evansdale,” Farris said. “On Saturday the Boreman Bistro, Summit Caf�, and Caf� Evansdale will be open until 2:30 p.m. for regular lunch. In addition, bag meals and other carryout items for dinner will be available for pick up in the above dining halls until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“On Sunday, December 20, Boreman Bistro, Summit Caf�, and Caf� Evansdale will be open from 9:00 a.m. until noon for continental breakfast and bag lunches.”

Tours of campus were also cancelled; the WVU Libraries closed at 1:30 p.m. as well.

Saturday was the last day for students before the Winter Break, with some finals scheduled at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

The PRT was scheduled to continue to run until 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

West Virginia University’s women’s basketball contest against Fresno State was rescheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday at the WVU Coliseum.

University officials on Friday urged all students, faculty and employees to exercise good judgment in deciding whether to attend finals or come to work based on the road and weather conditions in their individual locations.

Elizabeth A. Dooley, associate provost for undergraduate academic affairs, urged students to email their instructors immediately if it became evident they would be unable to make it in for Saturday’s finals.

Further information about the University’s plans in dealing with the story will be available through many outlets, including the WVU emergency text message system, WVU’s main Web page (http://www.wvu.edu), WVUToday (http://wvutoday.wvu.edu) and Intranet, E-News (e-mail announcements), Mountaineer Information Xpress (MIX), campus Information Stations and the media. (To sign up for the emergency message system, go to http://emergency.wvu.edu).

The Division of Human Resources reminds supervisors that employees who do not work their scheduled shift may take annual leave, compensatory time off or – at the supervisors’ discretion – be permitted to make up those hours. Employees with question can call 304-276-0729.

-WVU-

12/19/20

CONTACT: News and Information Services
304-293-6997